669 paramedic describes Zafit Stream rescue operation

They are trained to rescue and evacuate wounded soldiers under fire, operating far beyond enemy lines, but even for these trained professionals, the Zafit Stream disaster, which claimed the lives of 10 teens, was a particularly traumatic event.

Yediot Ahronot 11.24.18

In his forthcoming book, “From zero to a 100″— which will be published in the coming months by Yedioth Books—Guy, a paramedic in IAF’s special Airborne Rescue and Evacuation Unit 669, describes a day that started just like any other day, but ended with the dramatic rescue operation for missing teens who were swept away in the flooding of the Zafit Stream.

Guy, 24, from Hoshaya community settlement in northern Israel, was released from the army a few months ago, after a long army service. From the beginning of his basic training course until his discharge day, Guy documented his experiences as a paramedic in one of the IDF’s most elite and intriguing units.

Unit 669 participates in every possible combat scenario— from rescue and evacuation missions under fire to secret operations beyond enemy lines—and its skilled soldiers possess all the necessary fighting and rescue skills.

Rescue fighters on call in Tel Nof or Palmachim air bases don’t know where their job will take them in fifteen minutes—will they be on their way to rescue hikers caught in a flood? Or wounded soldiers trapped in the heart of Gaza? For this reason, they must be prepared for every possible scenario.